Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-07-21
A LASSOING LESSON.
INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF AN
EDITORIAL PHILOSOPHER.


A Queer Looking Old Gentleman with
Not. Book An H.nd-curiops to Kpou
s..,
AOo
an Experimental Throw.
7, 1880 -.,cbsr in Santa Clara
I,.,:.--.1 -, :. a.. -,
N~i iiA' zig - '-e - -
Oh gram horse7' pigs oni'Aes' anu O'''e'
oomes1c proonce. Ii "Ss III 'ne Der eSoo
district, few miles northeast OF San Jose,
and seven miles from AlViso, tne heao Oh oan
Francisco bay navigation
One day, early IN August, was out IN the
mountains east OF the valley, hunting after
my favorite saddle horse was on foot and
carried "riatta' IN my hand-a genuine
Spanish lasso made of rawhide, same as is
universally made by Mexlcans, native Cali
fornians and Avaqueros' generally. All
had to do when l found my horse was to
throw the rata over his head, take halt
hitch around bis nose, leap upon bis back and
ride home. But did not find my horse.
After tramp Of three or fours was get
ting back homeward, hungry and tired As
passed down through the foothills just east Of
Niles ranch, l spied somebody sitting on a
rock. He was queer looking gentleman, Of
~N@N
hat, white whiskers away under his chin and
peculiar look generally. DE had a note
book in his hand, and was so busily engaged
in writing THAI be did not notice my approach
until was within few feet Of him.
To my salt tation Of |Good evening, sir"
he courteously responded; then said: HAre
you acquainted around here, sir"
"Yes, sir, for some years past am ranch
ing just down below yonder, where you see
that big evergreen tree"
The whole valley lay spread out in pastoral
panoramic beauty, checkered of into neatly
fenced farms, with lovely groves, orchards,
vineyards, gardens, cottage dwellings and
farmhouses scattered all over the landscape
"Now, that's AlviSo," said he, "but what
road is that running south from 1t among
the treesr
THAT'S tne SANTA Oiara roao, slr, ana tne
town you see tnere among tne trees Is SANTA
Clara, where tne oid Mission cnurcn Is, ana
tne oio orcnaro' estaoiiSneu ny 1ne JESUIT
fathers lOO years ago.
TAKING DOWN ITEMS
He noted this down, and asked: w hats
that heavy row OF trees beyond Santa Clara,
70 the southwark
That's the Alameda, beautifully shaded
AOou OoACC AhhOo AOHS5 AiNAAi O0Hon OAAAO "
the pueblo or city, of San Jose. 1t has two
rows Of shade trees on each side, planted
about 100 years ago by the native Indians,
ul.der the direction OF the priests Every
Sunday this road used TO be swept clean, and
the holy fathers, or padres, with their congre-
cation, used to march in procession from the
pueblo to the church at the Mission for divine
service ThaU's San Jose you see of 70 the
lett"
"Yes, know. was there yesterday. It's
a very nice town"
He eyed me somewhat curiously, and re-
marked: "That's what they call lasso.
isn't itr'
"Yes, sir; I've been out hunting after
stray horse, but couldn't find him, so I'm just
getting home. I'll get after him on horse
back tomorrow"
"But always thought the lasso had to be
used exclusively by a man ON horseback
How would you run horse down Oh foot and
catch him with that roper
Dear me, no; | wouldn't run after the
horse at all. I'd Just approach him quietly,
sneak to him gently and try to pet him, and
slim the rope over his neck. But if he tried to
play shv I'd lust throw the loop of the lasso
oman this vvay and drag il along behind me
thus watch INV chance. and give it a side cast
this way getting it over his head before he
had chance to dodgen
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